Wilderness fire northwest of Entiat has more than doubled in size

Pomas Fire, in remote forested land northwest of Entiat, as seen from the air June 16.

Two hot shot crews of firefighters, helicopters and airtanker scoopers worked the Pomas Fire burning in steep terrain, 36 air miles northwest of Entiat Monday afternoon. The wildland fire has burned an estimated 402 acres of downed timber to-date,, more than double in size from a day earlier.

Firefighters are focused on limiting new growth along the Entiat River, successfully using a rocky avalanche chute to hold the fire from spreading further down valley toward Mrytle Lake.

The Wenatchee-Okanogan National Forest reported Monday afternoon the fire was moving towards the Pomas Creek area and spotted across the Entiat River below Borealis Peak late in the afternoon due to winds.

“This is an extreme tough piece of ground with all the dead and down timber from the 2015 Wolverine Fire and ten years’ worth of thick regeneration,” said Holly Krake, Entiat-Chelan District Ranger for the Forest Service. “The smokejumpers and pilots are doing everything they safely can to keep fire from becoming established on the east side of the Entiat River and down in Snowbrushy Creek.”

Additional firefighters, including two hotshot crews and rappelers, arrived on the fire scene Monday to bolster ground resources to continue suppressing the fire. Scoopers will continue dipping out of Lake Chelan while helicopters will use Fern and Myrtle Lakes for water bucket work. However, the Forest Service says heavy dead timber in the area, west winds, and low humidity will continue to challenge safe and effective firefighting efforts.

“There are four months of significant wildfire potential ahead of us in Central Washington,” added Krake. “While the fire is deep in the Wilderness now, we want to make sure the Pomas Fire doesn’t linger to later threaten communities or tie up firefighting resources in July or August.”

Smoke is visible from Holden Village and Lake Chelan areas as well as the Trinity/Chiwawa area. For more information on smoke and air quality please visit: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/

The Glacier Peak Wilderness on the Entiat Ranger District, including Ice Lakes, is now closed for fire operations and public safety. Mrytle Lake access is also closed. Specific trail closures include Entiat River Trail #1400 past Duncan Hill Trail #1434, Snowbrushy Trail #1230, and Garland Peak Trail #1408. A closure order and map will be posted to Inciweb once they are available. The fire is 12 air miles from the Pacific Crest Trail and currently poses no threat to that trail.

No homes or structures are being threatened by the remote fire.